WEEKEND FUN GRAB BAG: Celebrate the season all around the region

Holiday tours continue through the first week in January at Pennypacker Mills. Check out the display of vintage inspired decorations that explore how the Christmas season was celebrated more than 100 years ago.
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Fun for all

National Museum of American Jewish History: Then annual family day, “Being __ at Christmas” is open to all 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 25. The day includes crafts, a story time, live music by Alex & the Kaleidoscope, exploration of the exhibits and galleries — including “Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews” — and more Admission is $15, $5 for children. The AMAJH is at 101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia.

Live on stage

Dino’s Backstage: Jen Montague joins Michael Richard Kelly and Paula Johns in their “Snow Show” Dec. 22-23. Dino’s Backstage and The Celebrity Room are at 287 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside. Dinner seating is at 7 p.m. and show time is 8:30. Tickets are $40 ticket, with a $20 food and beverage minimum, and are available at www.dinosbackstage.com or by calling (215) 884-2000.

SteelStacks: Catch “Swingin’ the Holidays” with the Rob Stoneback Big Band at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Musikfest Café. Tickets range from $18-$22. Then the “Every Woman” Comedy Tour, with Aida Rodriguez, April Macie and Chaunte Wayans takes the stage at 9 p.m. Dec. 30. Tickets range from $26-$29. The ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Visit www.steelstacks.org or call (610) 332-3378.

“Bobby Hill & Friends! A Family New Year’s Eve” features the singer that became an overnight sensation when he performed for Pope Francis and millions of others around the world at a live, 2015 televised performance on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in honor of the pontiff. The concert, which will also include the New Jersey Boychoir, the Archbishop Carroll High School’s Choir and the “Find Your Instrument!” Choir from Lingelbach Elementary School, is dedicated to the endARTSlessness campaign, for which Hill is the spokesperson. It’s set for at 4 p.m. Dec. 31.

Ambler Theater: Family Stages puts “The Wizard of Oz” on the stage, with two actors playing all the characters, at 11 a.m. Dec. 27 at the theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors/grandparents, free to children under 3. Call (215) 886-9341, email familystages@gmail.com or visit www.familystages.org.

Winter break learning

Washington Crossing Historic Park: The re-enactment of George Washington’s Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River, takes place noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 25. Attendees are encouraged to come early to secure a viewing spot, and to stay after for speeches and commemorative activities. The park is at 1112 River Road, Upper Makefield Township. Admission is free.

Museum of the American Revolution: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 26-31 explore the stories of the people who lived on Third and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia, where the museum is located, during the Revolutionary era. Every day at 11, participate in a demonstration of activities that would have taken place in the neighborhood during the 18th century, from fencing to dancing and more. At 2 p.m. attend a discussion in the museum’s third-floor Liberty Hall about Philadelphia during the Revolutionary era. At an archaeology cart, learn about what the people who once lived on the site of the museum once bought, used and threw away, and how it was discovered by archaeologists. Also, make a colorful holiday window illumination, like the ones in the museum by Philadelphia artist Charles Willson Peale.

Also, through March 3, see the Diamond Eagle — a jewel-encrusted medal owned and worn by George Washington — on display in Philadelphia for the first time since it was presented to Washington in the city 233 years ago. The Diamond Eagle is the badge of office of the president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization founded by officers of the Continental Army at the end of the Revolutionary War to preserve the memory of the American Revolution for all time.

Admission is $19, $17 for seniors, students and active or retired military, $12 for children 6 and up. Visit www.amrevmuseum.org or call (215) 253-6731.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 27-30 have a “Dino-mite Winter,” with four days of special programming. Come face-to-face with live cold-blooded creatures; make a winter-themed animal craft; enjoy educational live animal shows; talk with academy scientists; and view specimens from the academy’s research collection. The Academy of Natural Sciences is at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. Visit www.ansp.org for tickets.

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove: A free adult workshop on the Christmas Bird Count is held 7 to 9 a.m. Dec. 23. Participate in Audubon’s annual citizen science project by helping to count birds. Beginners will be paired with more experienced birders. Binoculars are provided. Workshops begin in the education classroom of the historic house. Reservations are required by calling (610) 666-5593.

Also, a free story time for all ages starts at 11 a.m. Dec. 23 in the library of the historic house. The program is free with museum admission. Enjoy an animal tale, followed by a themed craft to take home. Reservations are required.

Holiday hits

Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust: On a Santa’s Polar Bear Express train excursion at 1 p.m. Dec. 22 or 10 a.m. or 1 or 4 p.m. Dec. 23, sip complimentary hot cocoa or enjoy Christmas cookies and, on some trains, sing favorite carols as the Secret Valley passes by your window. Santa brings a gift for every child, and every child has an opportunity to give their Christmas letter to him. The station is at the Boyertown Rail Yard, at the corner of Washington and Third streets, Boyertown. Call (866) 289-4021 or go to www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center: The annual Christmas Putz is on view through March 17 in the Local History Gallery. The Putz is an ever-evolving holiday display, much as it was when the putz makers in the Lehigh Valley put them together a hundred years ago. On display in the first floor wall cases is “Vintage Christmas Ceramics and More from the Woodland Collection” through Feb. 26. The museum is at 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg. Call (215) 679-3103 or email info@schwenkfelder.com.

Pennypacker Mills: Create the memories of Christmases past with free Holiday Tours of the early 20th century mansion through Jan. 7 (closed Dec. 24 and 31). Pennypacker Mills is at 5 Haldeman Road, Perkiomen Township. For more information, call (610) 287-9349 or email pennypackermills@montcopa.org.

Pottsgrove Manor: Twelfth Night Tours continue through Jan. 7 during regular museum hours. Enjoy a guided tour of the Pottstown historic site, decorated with greens and holly for the Yuletide season. Learn about the traditional English celebrations of Twelfth Night and how they differed from our modern Christmas celebrations. Suggested donation is $2 per person. Call (610) 326-4014.

Morris Arboretum: The Holiday Garden Railway runs daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 31 (closed Dec. 24-25). The quarter-mile of track features seven loops and tunnels, with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and model trains, all set in the winter garden of the Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia. The display and buildings are all made of natural materials — bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones — to form a miniature landscape with small streams. Buildings replicate Philadelphia area landmarks such as Independence Hall and Philadelphia City Hall. For more information, call (215) 247-5777 or visit www.morrisarboretum.org.

Adventure Aquarium: Christmas Underwater takes place through Dec. 30. Every holiday season, Scuba Santa appears both in water and on dry land at the aquarium at 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, N.J. To make their Christmas extra special this year, he decided to gather corals from all over the world’s oceans to create the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree in the Shark Realm. To learn more or purchase tickets online, visit www.adventureaquarium.com.

Macy’s Center City: Through Dec. 31 catch the Christmas Light Show (which also comes with a Wanamaker Organ Concert at the noon show) at the store in the historic Wanamaker Building at 1300 Market St., Philadelphia. The store also has a 6,000-square-foot, walk-through Dickens Village on the third floor, with more than 100 animated figures reenacting 26 of “A Christmas Carol”’s most memorable moments.

Comcast Center: The 15-minute Comcast Holiday Spectacular happens at the top of each hour 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (excluding weekdays at 5 p.m.) through Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day on the video wall inside the Comcast Center, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia.

Philadelphia City Hall: New this season, the Center City District, in collaboration with 6-ABC, presents the “Deck the Hall Light Show.” This free, nightly, choreographed light show projects onto City Hall every hour on the half-hour weekday nights, and more frequently on weekend nights, through Jan. 1. Also, check out additional attractions in surrounding Dilworth Plaza and the City Hall Courtyard. Get more details at https://centercityphila.org/parks/dilworth-park/wintergarden/light-show.

Franklin Square: Through Dec. 31 the Franklin Square Holiday Festival features the nightly Electrical Spectacle, lighting up the park with 50,000 lights with a holiday soundtrack every 30 minutes 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and on Christmas Eve. Shows run till 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The annual festival also features a variety of festive programming alongside a winter beer garden with fire pits, areas for making s’mores and treats like gourmet hot chocolate. Franklin Square is at 200 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia.

Old City Philadelphia: Historic Holiday Nights run 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 28, with more than 50 participating boutiques, shops, art galleries, museums, salons, spas, restaurants and cafes around the neighborhood treating visitors to special sales, discounts, promotions, seasonal cocktails, added menu items, special events and extended hours. Find out more at http://oldcitydistrict.org/historicholidaynights.

Koziar’s Christmas Village: Through Jan. 1, the walk-through, evening light and holiday attraction is open 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays at 782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville. Dress appropriately to the conditions, as there are both outdoor and indoor displays. Cost is $10, $9 for seniors 65+, $8 for children 4-10 and free to children 3 and under. See www.koziarschristmasvillage.com or visit their Facebook page.

National Christmas Center: It’s your last chance to explore this family attraction and Christmas museum at 3427 Lincoln Highway, Paradise Township. The center announced that it was going to close permanently Jan. 7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (last ticket sold one hour prior to closing). Admission is $12.50, $5 for children 3-12. Learn more about the many exhibits at www.nationalchristmascenter.com.

Pearl S. Buck International: Festival of Trees tours continue through Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24-25) at the historic site at 520 Dublin Road, Hilltown Township. Get more information at (215) 249-0100 or www.pearlsbuck.org/festival.

Hersheypark: The park at 100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, is open with lights and entertainment, Santa and reindeer, and even some rides are running, with Christmas Candylane through Jan. 1. Admission is $24 for ages 3 and up. For hours and more information, visit www.hersheypark.com/seasons/christmas.php.

Six Flags Great Adventure: Holiday in the Park continues through Jan. 1. Joining the Toyland Express, North Pole Village, light, music, and some of the park rides this season are the show “Spirit of the Season: A Holiday Celebration” and seasonal beers and spiked hot chocolate. Prices start at $45.99. The park is of Route 537, Jackson, N.J. Get full details at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/special-events/holiday-in-the-park.

Dutch Wonderland: Dutch Winter Wonderland continues 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 23 and 30 and 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 26-29, with rides, entertainment and the Royal Light Show display of lights. Admission is $13.99 for ages 3 and up ($11.99 online at www.dutchwonderland.com). The park is at 2249 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. Call (866) FUN-AT-DW.

Here comes the New Year

Lansdale Public Library: A Noon Year’s Eve Party gets underway at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 29. Families can have fun counting down to 2018 early at the library, 301 Vine St., Lansdale. Call (215) 855-3228.

Downtown Media: The New Year’s Eve Community Celebration and Ball Drop is set for State and Jackson streets Dec. 31. Entertainment by Philly Gumbo starts at 11 p.m., followed by the ball drop at midnight.

Powel House: The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia hosts its eighth annual New Year’s Eve Ghost Tours Dec. 31 at the Powel House in Society Hill, 244 S. Third St., Philadelphia. Discover tales of mystery, merriment and ghosts who party the night away, including the spirits of Samuel and Eliza Powel, Benedict Arnold and Ben Franklin. One-hour tours will be available from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $22. Call (215) 413-1997 or visit www.ghosttour.net/hauntedphiladelphia.

Delaware River Waterfront: See the annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the at 6 p.m. or midnight Dec. 31. Among those hosting parties are SugarHouse Casino and Independence Seaport Museum. The RiverRink also gets in on the action with entertainment, favors, outdoor seating and great views. Visit www.delawareriverwaterfront.com.

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant: NYE 2018 gets underway at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at 4120 Main St. in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. There will be DJs, dancing and more in multiple rooms. Get more information and ideas at www.upcomingevents.com/philadelphia/new-years-eve/?ref=ucen120517.

Hyatt at The Bellevue: The Glitter City Gala starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. Get more information and ideas at www.upcomingevents.com/philadelphia/new-years-eve/?ref=ucen120517.